Benefits

> Requires a small space and installs quickly> Low product hold up> Carries out tests on a few litres of product > Many products can be tested with versatile plate or tubular system > Can form part of a complete processing line (aseptic and non-aseptic)

FT74XTS UHT/HTST Service Unit

The FT74XTS service unit provides the services, controls and instrumentation to run the Armfield miniature scale heat exchangers as described below. The heat exchangers fit on top of the service unit and can be interchanged easily in just a few minutes.

The service unit comprises a feed tank, a product pump, instrumentation for the heat exchangers and an electrically powered hot water boiler with recirculation pump. It is controlled by an integral programmable logic controller (plc) with a high resolution full colour touch screen panel providing the operator interface.

A novel feature is the feed pump, which has two speed ranges. A low speed range for UHT processing and a higher range for clean in place (CIP) or for processing at higher throughputs and lower temperatures. The flow rate is fully variable in each range. The feed pump is a hygienic progressing cavity pump controlled by a state of the art frequency inverter, which compensates for any slip in the pump drive motor. Thus the flow rate of the product can be determined to an accuracy sufficient for many purposes directly from the pump speed setting. This calculated flow rate is displayed on the screen. An electromagnetic flow meter option is also available (FT74-40).

The standard FT74XTS permits the temperature history to be recorded onto a USB datastick for subsequent analysis. Also available is an advanced datalogging system with software enabling temperatures, product pressure, pump speed etc to be recorded directly onto a windows pc (not provided). The accompanying software provides a range of sophisticated real time graphical and tabular display facilities. See www.armfield.co.uk/armsoft for more details.

Miniature Tubular Heat Exchanger

The FT74-20-MkIII is the standard tubular heat exchanger, and uses a series of concentric 316 stainless steel tubes to heat and cool the product. A gentle preheat can be achieved by adjusting the hot water flow to the first two tubes. Four further heating tubes are used and both 2s and 15s (at 10l/hr) holding tubes are provided as standard.

The four cooling tubes can be used either as a single cooling stage, or split into two stages of two tubes each for enhanced cooling when used in conjunction with a cooling water supply and a chilled water/glycol supply (e.g. Armfield FT63). The FT74-20-MkIII can be upgraded to the FT74-24-MkIII (below) at a later date. The FT74-24-MkIII is an extended version of the FT74-20-MkIII, with a total of eight cooling tubes (4+4). When used with a chilled water/glycol supply on the second four tubes, and with the static mixer options, this heat exchanger can give product output temperatures below 10°C, dependant on product, flow rate and processing temperature.

The FT74-21 is a set of static mixers for two tubes, and can be used with either tubular heat exchanger to improve the heat transfer. This is particularly useful when trying to get maximum heating or cooling with viscous products. Multiple sets can be used to optimise both heating and cooling performance. Additional static mixers can be added at any time.

Miniature Plate Heat Exchanger

FT74-30 Plate heat exchanger module

Process flow diagram showing plate heatexchanger and all options

The FT74-30-MkIII is the standard plate heat exchanger, comprising a regeneration section, a heating section and a cooling section. It is based on miniature 316 stainless steel plates specifically developed for this application. The chevron pattern mimics the turbulence and shear rate of industrial scale systems. Holding tubes of 2s and 15s (at 10l/hr) are provided as standard.

A number of options can be provided to enhance the performance of the standard plate heat exchanger. These options involve additional plate configurations and are easy to retro-fit by the user.

The FT74-31 Homogeniser interconnecting plate can be fitted into the regeneration section and permits connections to an upstream (i.e. before heat treatment) homogeniser to be made. It includes a temperature sensor on the homogeniser return, which can be displayed on the FT74-DTA-ALITE data logger. The FT74-32 Homogeniser interconnecting plate enables the homogeniser to be connected after the heat treatment (downstream).

Note: only one interconnecting plate can be fitted at a time.

The FT74-33 Two stage cooling option provides a complete additional cooling stage. The second cooling stage can be used in conjunction with a chilled water/glycol supply (e.g. Armfield FT63) for the best possible product cooling. Output temperatures below 5°C are possible, dependant on the product and the flow rate. An interconnecting link is provided to permit single stage cooling.

The FT74-34 Additional heating option provides extra plates in both the heating and regeneration sections. This is useful for difficult products at high temperatures, or where higher throughputs are desired.

Other Accessories

FT74-65 Variable Holding Tube

Comprising three different holding tube coils, packaged together in an insulated canister, the FT74-65 can be easily configured to provide seven different holding times between 30s and 120s (at 10l/hr). Intermediate holding times can be achieved by varying the feed flow rate.

The variable holding tube can be used with all the plate and tubular heat exchangers described above. It is supplied with an additional temperature sensor to enable the product temperature from the holding tube to be displayed on the screen.

FT74-45 Sterilisation Link

The FT74-45 is an additional heat exchanger which can be used with the FT74-20-MkIII or FT74-30-MkIII to sterilise the complete system including the cooling section. The heating power is derived from the hot water boiler used in the FT74X. It can also be used to link to and sterilise an aseptic filler such as the Armfield FT83.

Note: if using an in-line homogeniser, the additional cooling tubes of the FT74-24-MkIII, or holding times in excess of 45s, then additional measures will be required to completely sterilise the system. Please consult Armfield with your specific requirements.

FT74-22 Pneumatic Back Pressure Valve

When working with particulate products and the tubular heat exchanger, the standard mechanical back pressure valve can be replaced by the FT74-22 to give much more stable flow and back pressure. (Requires a supply of compressed air)

Associated Equipment

A wide range of equipment is available for use in conjunction with the FT74/FT74XTS systems to enhance the overall processing capability.

FT90/91 Homogenisation sub-system.

When used with an FT74X/FT74XTS, the FT90 gives a complete in-line homogenisation capability upstream or downstream. See separate data sheet for details.

FT83 Sterile Filling System.

The FT83 allows sterile product produced by the FT74X/FT74XTS to be packaged into pre-sterilised containers in an aseptic environment, see separate data sheet. The FT74-45 is also required to sterilise the overall system.

FT63 Process Chiller.

Provides a supply of chilled water for use with the tubular heat exchangers, or with the second stage cooling option of the plate heat exchanger. See separate data sheet.

Integrated systems.

The majority of customer requirements can be easily and simply implemented from the standard items listed above using a modular approach. However, there will be situations when these standard items will not meet the full needs of a specific customer. Armfield offer a service to design and build complete bespoke integrated processing lines optimised to your requirements.